I saw him sitting with the parents, and was relieved to know that I had a ride home. I saw him again at the post-game dance. Oakdale had been invited ...o stay, but after their loss they declined the invitation so it was just C.M.A. and Speedwell students at the dance. That left room for the parents to float in and out of the room at will, although they were not permitted to bring drinks into the auditorium.I spent most of the hour making excuses for not asking the Speedwell girls to dance, not. Donachd advised that he needed to take his force back to Antrim to deal with that, meaning that any gain in Inverness would not be consolidated.The Picts had adopted a nomadic existence and refused to be lured into any major confrontation. Eochaid knew that as soon as his warriors returned to Dalriada to sit out the winter, the Picts would be back at their old camps and no doubt increasing their defences so they were stronger for the next year.Undoubtedly the Picts had lost many men, most of. .."A ball-gown?" I said, as she extracted that pink confection of a dressfrom my closet. "Why do you want me to dress in a ball-gown?" Because next month is the Autumn Ball," she said. "We hold it here atthe castle every September, and I'm guessing you've never danced in onewith a man taking the lead." No, I have to confess I haven't," I replied."I thought not. Hans is a very good dancer. He's volunteered to give youlessons in the Great Hall while I'm doing my rounds. But if we're goingto do. "I don't have any needs outside of my relationship with Yvette." What about the incestuous relationship - your cousin? Sister?" Both, at one point actually." I sneered, "I am a red-neck from Verginny." He didn't look amused. "Beth and I no longer have a physical relationship and haven't in several years. Alex is not outside my relationship with Yvette." Did you end things with Beth or did she?"I could not imagine what that had to do with anything. "Mutual consent. We never officially sat down.